Spark-plug intensifier



R. E. HILDEBRAND. SPARK PLUG INTENSIFIER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,I9I7.

' in detail, illustrated in the drawing and ,more particularly pointedout UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD E. HILDEBRAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPARK-PLUG INTENSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

Application led .January 29, 1917. Serial No.'145,043.

provements which will make the intensifving spark more certain ordependable by multiplying the pointsfrom which the spark may jump; byobviating variations in the sparkgap due to vibrations and burning awayof wire electrode points, and by providing a more stable constructiongenerally than heretofore. Another object of the invention is to provideimproved means for detecting spark plug troubles and to protect sameagainst the elements. foreign Substances, etc.

'ith the above-named general objects in view my invention consists inthe. novel construction, combination Iand arrangement of parts, all ashereinafter described more fully accomlmnymg in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure l is a vertical section through a. spark plugwith my improvements applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section taken .substantially on the, line 2 2 ol' Fig. l.

Fig. 3 iS a perspective view of the protective hood for the inlensilierattachnn-nt. together with the protected parts separated. Fig. A't is amodification o l' Fig. 2. A

Fig. 5 is a. section taken substantially on line 5-5 Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a .section taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 1.

ln the several views 2 represents a well known form of sparkplug-comprising an interiorly threaded lower section il with exteriorthreads 4 to he engaged with a threaded engine bore, and an uppersection 5 carrying a. porcelain insulator. 6, i' and 8 are the usualelectrodes or tiring points and 9 an exteriorly threaded bushing havingscrew threaded engagement with the section 3 and bearing against aflange l on the lower jump tb the central nut -engine hood. whether endof the section that is seated on antannnlar shoulder 11 on the section3. The upper end of the electrode wire? is a threaded portion 12 onwhich are' nuts 13 and 14 holding therebetween a disk of insulation 15and a similar disk of metal 16, with the difference that the disk 15 hasa small bore 17 for the wire 12 while the disk 16 has a larger opening18 therein from the edge of which a spark, or a series of sparks, may'13 and the electrode wire 12, 'i'.A In Fig. 4 this jump-spark edgetakes the form of a saw-tooth edge 19 which provides a large number ofindividual points trom which sparks may jump to the central electrodewire. -In the peripheries of the disks 15 and 16 arey cut notches 20 and21 which permit the passage of flanges 22 and.

23 on the edge of an approximately semisphcrlcal glass hood 24. Byturning the hood atter the 'passage of its flanges through the cnt-outportions 2() and 21 the flanges are engaged with the under side of thedisk 15. An annular flange 25 above the segmental flanges 22 and 23engages the upper side of the disk 16. The disks 15 and 16 are providedwith projections 0r extensions .26 through which is a bore 2T that isengaged by a bolt or post 28 on which is a knurled nut 29 and a nut 30between which is clamped the end of a wire 31 that conducts current. tothe disk 16. In the horizontal plane of the flanges 22 and 23 the hood24 has' a cnt away portion 32 that clears the extension 26.

The. above described invention is an improved spark intensifier andspark trouble detector` all combined in a single plug niemler. The edgeof the vdisk 16 provides a -multiple spark gap at which may be noted onthe exterior of the engine` b v lifting the or not theplug is operativeat the ignition gap within the cngine cylinder. The smooth edge 1S 0rsaw edge 19 provides an indefinitemnnber of spark gaps from which anumber of sparks may radiale lo the. central nut. which intensities theaction of the intensifying gap. which is to produce a static current andan induced current which does not seek a short circuit` but is forced tothe' gap at the the4 sparking ignition end of the plug. la-tter gap thespark is ch-anged from the usual yellow toa much hotter blue flame whichtends to keep the plug and cylinder AgA soot, carbon, grease, or brokenporcelain,-

prevents the widening of the ordinary gap from jerks and vibrations inthel machinery,

and the increased spark 'power obv1ates trouble from flooding the enginewith oil-L the plug firing evenly though covered with oilor packed withgrease.

Theconveniently attachable and removable lass hood rotects the' plugterminals and insulation rom water and'oil and thereby helps to preventshort-circuiting.

aving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a spark plug, of ,I anintensifier on the outer or exposed end Aof the plug having a ring-formelectrode and a central electrode with an annular sparkgap therebetweenand a transparent hood inclosing said intensifier.

2. The combination with a spark-plug, of an auxiliary set of electrodesmounted in lan exposed position on said spark-plugr and producing ajump-spark at the exterior of an engine to which said plug is applied,and a removable hood that protects said electrodes and through whichtheir operation ,may be observed.

3. The combination with a spark, plug and its ignition electrodes to bearranged within an engine, of a centrally disposed electrode on theexteriorly exposed end of said sparkplug, and a circle of electrodepoints arranged around said centrally disposed electrode.

4. -The combination with a spark-plugs extenior'and exposed end and thecentrally disposed electrode wire having a nut thereon, of an insulatedelectric current conducting disk having an opening therein whichprovides aspark-gap around said nut, a transparent hood covering saidnut and opening, and means exteriorly of said hood for' connecting an'electric circuit wire with said disk.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed ni name. f

v ICHARD E. HILDEBRAND,

